Anticipation and Preparation

'Tis the season. Or so we are reminded by the eager push of retailers, insuring that we know how many shopping days to Christmas. Our culture seems to revolve around shopping as the most important means of preparation for the Nativity we Christians eagerly commemorate and anticipate.

I pray you find time in this Advent season to reflect upon the ancient family who delivered Jesus. My perspective is so radically different this time, having visited the Holy Lands this past summer. I will try to share that journey with you as we faithfully pray through Advent.

The mosaic at left is one of the many from around the world at the Latin Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, childhood home of Mary and Joseph.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. . . ." Luke 1:26-31, NRSV

At each Holy site we visited, where the church remembers events in the life of Jesus and those with whom we walked, talked, and taught, we read scripture aloud. It was such a Holy exercise to be able to see with our eyes rather than our imaginings the very land where Jesus walked. I loved Nazareth. It felt like a safe and holy place. It is a good place to begin the Advent Adventure toward Christmas.

Remember to visit our daily online devotional site as d365.org is retooled for the season; Following the Star . What a great way to begin the liturgical year anew.

Blessings in your journey to Christmas!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

As my brain crept toward consciousness this morning I heard a distant, almost mournful refrain. As it grew strength and volume I realized it wasn't mournful, but full of longing and anticipation.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

I lay in my cozy comforter grasping for the rest of the words, eyes squeezed shut, not wanting to break the barrier that contains the warmth of my Minnesota bed.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile, here until the Son of God appear.

That's the first verse. We've been singing it and others each Sunday in church. But how do the other verses go? I had to know. I threw the covers back before my alarm went off, trotted downstairs, and lit the Advent wreath in the still dark kitchen. I found my Hymnal 1982 and turned to Hymn #56. I love this plainsong hymn. It is so simple yet has so much depth.

The verse suggested for today's date is verse 5.

O come though key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

I can pray for that, especially on this snowy, brief day that marks winter in earnest.

Rejoice! Rejoice! 
Emmanuel shall come to thee, 
O Israel!

Third Sunday of Advent

Last Sunday I shared with you a tiny, pewter Advent Wreath that holds birthday cake-size candles and Prayers from the New Zealand Prayer Book. This week's Advent Wreath is an improvisation with some old candlesticks. I have always found it helpful to have a myriad of resources from around the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion at my fingertips to support my ministry with teenagers. This age group is figuring out that there are Episcopalians outside its own congregation and diocese. Teens are curious about the differences and commonalities within our own denomination, our own communion, and our own tradition of Christianity. Identifying those faith communities that support ministry with youth has always been key for me. I use whatever I can get my hands on that is creative, useful, interesting, and appropriate.

The Iona Community in Scotland remains faithful in its deep commitment to Youth Ministry. I had hoped to take my family there last summer for a sabbatical, but as a lay person found it difficult to receive funding. Please check the links in this post to learn more about their contributions to Christian evangelism and spiritual transformation. Following is their web-post for Advent.

Posted Nov 23, 2009

BRIGHT STAR-MAKER GOD
Bright star-maker God,
travel with us
through Advent
shine into our
dark corners
lead us into
ways of justice
warm us
with joy and wonder
bring us
to new birth.

Ruth Burgess
From Candles & Conifers: Resources for All Saints' to Advent, Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications

The Second Sunday in Advent

Sentence
You are the Holy One enthroned on the praises of your people. Our ancestors trusted in you and you delivered them; they put their trust in you and were not disappointed.     Psalm 22:3-5


Collects
Praise and honour to you, living God;
you chose the Hebrew people
and brought them step by step
to look for a redeemer, and hope for the Christ.
Give us grace to see our need
and recognise salvation when it comes.

God of Israel old and new,
write in our hearts the lessons of your law;
prepare our minds to receive the gospel
made visible in your Son Jesus Christ.

Living God, you called your people out of Egypt
and gave them the covenant;
prepare our hearts to hear your call,
so that we may receive with joy the Gospel of your Son
and be your faithful people,
now and forever.

Amen.

From A New Zealand Prayer Book, The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

First Week of Advent

What Advent traditions does your family keep?

During the years of raising our sons we have had a great debate each year to determine if our table would be decorated with blue or purple candles in Advent. Sometimes we have a pink candle for the third Sunday, sometimes not. In years that we ended up with blue we sometimes compromised with a light purple for the third Sunday. More importantly, our family was engaged in discussion about the liturgical color of the season, reminding us that preparation for Christmas is not simply about shopping or gift-making.

We have also had a number of different Advent Wreaths over the years. It all  began with those that were made at Advent Festivals at church; often the sort that required some help at home to keep them from falling apart with regular wear and tear of family dinners when children were home every night for supper. As the boys grew older and were home less, we didn't sit at the table for family dinners every night, and they became aware of the fragility of some of the old cardboard wreaths. Someone brought home a sturdy wooden cross candle holder from youth group one year, and we decorated it with real greens trimmed from our own trees in the yard. Once both boys were in middle school my sons purchased a traditional Danish iron candle holder with decorative greens and gave it to me for Christmas. This marked the beginning of using candles at dinner whenever our family gathers for a meal. My sons have added to the Danish ironwork candle holders over the years so that now our big country kitchen is lit by the original piece on the table and is boosted by a chandelier and wall sconces. It's a lovely and peaceful way to eat dinner that each of us treasures.

It all started by keeping Advent at home and not simply on Sundays at church.

My prayer for you is that your family can find a way to keep Advent holy and full of anticipation and preparation to receive the Christ into the world in this miraculous season.

For your personal use I commend the Following the Star online devotions series we co-author and sponsor as an ecumenical effort (http://www.d365.org/) in youth ministry. Passport Inc. administers and edits this holy offering. This year Following the Star draws its theme from Psalm 46: “Be Still and Know That I Am God.” As Advent begins, the writer, Tracy Hartman, helps us to quiet our souls as we turn toward God.

To journey with us, click here (or paste this link into your web browser): http://www.followingthestar.org/.

Bulletin inserts and images are available for you to promote Following the Star with your congregation or on your websites, blogs and social networks. Thank you for sharing this wonderful, free resource with others: www.d365.org/share.

Blessings in Advent!